Carrying device

ABSTRACT

A transportation device consisting of an elongate central member with a handle at one end, and a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on the other end. A first cross member is oriented generally perpendicular to the central member between the first two ends thereof and has a connector attached thereto for removably retaining an object to the first cross member. A yoke is moveably attached to the elongate member near the pair of wheels and a second cross member also having a connector thereon for removably retaining an object thereto is attached to the second cross member.

The inventors claim priority from their provisional application filedDec. 27, 2007 and assigned Ser. No. 61/009,258. The present inventionrelates to carrying devices for transporting equipment and the like foremergency personnel such as fire and police services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the event of an emergency such as a fire or serious vehicle accident,emergency personnel are summoned. By the time such emergency personnelarrive at the scene, the surrounding area is often congested by vehiclesand equipment from police and fire personnel who arrived earlier to thescene. It is not uncommon for such congestion to prevent a fire truck orother emergency vehicle from approaching any nearer than one block fromthe scene of a serious emergency. To carry out their tasks properly, theemergency personnel must personally transport certain equipment from thetruck to the site of the emergency. Frequently, the equipment to betransported is heavy and awkward and as a result the arrival of suchemergency personnel is often delayed by the task of transporting thenecessary equipment. Since the equipment is moved by the physicalstrength of the personnel themselves, transporting the equipment alsotires the emergency personnel thereby significantly reducing theireffectiveness once they arrive at the scene. The vehicles used fortransporting emergency personnel, such as fire trucks and ambulances andthe like, contain a very large quantity of equipment, all of which mustbe transported in the vehicle even though only a small fraction of theequipment may be required at the scene of any one emergency. The cargocompartments of such emergency vehicles are therefore carefullyengineered and very limited space is available for any additional deviceto assist in the transporting of equipment to the scene of an emergency.Nonetheless, fire and ambulance personnel are presently in need of asuitable compact transportation device to assist in the transporting ofemergency equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention is embodied in a transportation deviceconsisting of an elongate central support member having a first end anda second end. The support member has a handle at the first end and apair of wheels rotatably mounted on the second end for rolling thedevice across an underlying surface. A first cross member is orientedgenerally perpendicular to the central support member, between the firstend and the second end thereof and has a connector attached thereto forremovably retaining an object to the first cross member. A second crossmember is attached generally perpendicular to the elongate supportmember near the pair of wheels and is spaced from the first crossmember. The second cross member also has a connector thereon forremovably retaining an object thereto.

In the preferred embodiment, the elongate central member istelescopically collapsible so that the volume occupied by the entiredevice can be correspondingly reduced. Also, in the preferredembodiment, the first and second cross members each have a first end anda second end, and pivotally connected to each of the ends of the crossmembers is one end of an elongate connector. At the free end of each ofthe elongate connectors are attachment devices suitable for attachmentto any of a number of shaped objects such that objects of many shapesand sizes may be attached to the first cross member.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the elongate connectors arelongitudinally adjustable for changing the overall length of theconnectors for retaining objects of differing sizes and shapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention will be had after a reading ofthe detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a carrying device in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 1A is another isometric view of a carrying device shown in FIG. 1depicting the movement of the yoke toward the first end of the arm asthe device is collapsed;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the central arm of the device ofFIG. 1 taken with the parts in their extended orientation;

FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view of the central arm of the deviceof FIG. 1 taken with the arm telescopically collapsed;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the device of FIG. 1 showing it in thecollapsed position for storage on an emergency vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged isometric view of a portion of thesecond cross member of the device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a second fragmentary enlarged isometric view of the crossmember shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a third fragmentary enlarged isometric view of the clamp shownin FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged isometric exploded view showingportions of the central arm and the support leg for the device shown inFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, and 3 a transporting device 10 fortransporting an elongate object to the site of an emergency includes anelongate telescopically extendable central arm 12. In the embodimentdepicted, the arm 12 has four sections 14, 15, 16, 17, each of which hasa generally square shaped cross-section formed by welding four metalplates of nearly equal width into an elongate hollow box. The firstsection 14 has a generally square shaped inner opening sized toslideably receive the next section 15 therein. The second section 15also has a generally square shaped cross-section with the inner openingsized to slideably receive the next section 16 therein and section 16has a generally square shaped cross-section with the inner opening sizedto slideably receive the last section 17. Each of the sections 14, 15,16, 17 that make up the elongate central arm 12 have first ends that aredirected towards the first end 18 of the elongate central arm 12 and asecond end that is directed toward the second end 19 of the arm 12. Toform the telescopically collapsible arm 12, a portion of the second endof the second section 15 is fitted into the first end of section 14, aportion of the second end of the third section 16 is fitted into thefirst end of section 15, and a portion of the second end of the fourthportion 17 is fitted into the first end of the third section 16. As aresult, the elongate central arm 12 can be longitudinally collapsed to afraction of its overall length.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first section 14 has a pair ofaligned transverse holes 28, 29 near the first end thereof and thesecond section 15 has a pair of transverse holes 30, 31 near the secondend thereof. Inserted within the inner opening of the second section 15is a locking pin 32 having a V-shaped spring 33 with an outwardlyextending projection 35, 36 at the outer ends of each leg of the spring33. The ends of the projections 35, 36 are positioned in the holes 30,31 in the second section 15. When the second section 15 is fullyextended from the first section 14, the holes 30, 31 of the secondsection 15 will become aligned with the holes 28, 29 of the firstsection 14 and the projections 35, 36 will extend through the alignedsets of holes 28, 30 and 29, 31 thereby locking the parts in theirextended orientation. The outer ends of the projections 35, 36 arepreferably hemispherical. To collapse the second section 15 into thefirst section 14, one compresses the projections 35, 36 with one'sfingers allowing the inner surface of the first section 14 to move overthe hemispherical outer ends of the projections 35, 36.

In similar fashion, the first end of the second section 15 has a pair ofaligned transverse holes 39, 40 therein positioned to align with anotherpair of transverse holes 43, 44 near the second end of the third section16. Another V-shaped spring locking pin 32 is inserted into the holes43, 44 of the third section 16 to retain the third section 16 in itsextended orientation with respect to the second section 15. Similarly,the first end of the third section 16 has a pair of holes 47, 48 thereinpositioned to align with another pair of transverse holes 51, 52 nearthe second end of the fourth section 17. Yet another V-shaped lockingpin 32 is inserted into the holes 51, 52 of the fourth section 17 toretain the fourth section 17 in its extended orientation with respect tothe third section. To collapse the extended arm 12, the projections 35,36 of each spring pin 32 is compressed in succession and the sections14, 15, 16, 17 pressed together. To extend the central arm 12, the firstend of section 17 is pulled outward of the others until the pairs ofholes of each section 14-17 come into alignment and the spring lockingpins 32 snap each section in its expanded orientation.

Referring further to FIG. 1, at the first end of the third section 17 ofarm 12 is a transverse handle 53 oriented perpendicular to the centralarm 12 and having opposing gripping members 54, 55 for pulling thedevice 10 across the ground. Positioned below the handle 53 is adownwardly extending post 56 and welded across the lower end of the post56 is a transverse rack 57. An eye 67 is welded to the upper surface ofthe third section 17 near the handle 53 for receiving a connector as isfurther described below.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, spaced a short distance from the secondend 19 of first section 14 of arm 12 is a cross member 60 having arectangular cross-section similar to that of the first section 14. Atthe outer ends of cross member 60 are outer end caps 61, 62. Extendinglongitudinally through the length of the cross member 60 and throughcentrally located transverse holes, unnumbered, in the end caps 61, 62is an axle shaft 63. Rotatably connected to the outer ends of axle shaft63 are a pair of rotatable wheels 64, 65 suitable for transporting thedevice 10 across an underlying surface such as the pavement of a street.

Positioned near the first end of the third section 16 of central arm 12is a second cross member 68. In the preferred embodiment, the secondcross member 68 is retained by a pair of support arms 69, 70 so as to bespaced a short distance above the elongate central arm 12. The secondcross member 68 has first and second outer ends 72, 73 and pivotallymounted to the first end 72 is a first end of a longitudinallyadjustable clamp 74. Similarly, pivotally mounted to the second end 73of the second cross member 68 is a first end of a second longitudinallyadjustable clamp 76 that is structurally identical to the first clamp74.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 in which only clamp 74 is visible, each ofthe longitudinally adjustable clamps 74, 76 is in the form of a bracketformed by a generally planar central body 78 and along opposite sides ofthe elongate central body 78 are first and second side panels 80, 81.The bracket 78 is rotatably attached to one of the distal ends of thesecond cross member 68 by an elongate bolt 82 that extends through ahole, not visible, in each of the side panels 80, 81 and through alignedholes, also not visible, in the second cross member 68 such that thecentral body 78 of the bracket is rotatable about an end of the secondcross member 64. The central body 78 of the bracket has an elongatelongitudinal slot 84 therein and slideably received between the sidepanels 80, 81 and along the inner wall of the central body 78 is agenerally planar end panel 86 of an elongate hook 88. The end panel 86has a transverse hole, not visible, therein and extending through thehole is a bolt 90 that also passes through the slot 84 in the centralbody 78. A wing nut 92 is hand tightened on the bolt 90 such that thelength of the hook 88 can be longitudinally adjusted when the wing nut92 is loosened with respect to the bolt 90 and locked into a desiredlength by manually tightening the wing nut 92 upon the bolt 90.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, extending downwardly from each side of thefirst end of the second section 15 are a pair of parallel retainerplates 94, 96 having an upper pair of aligned transverse holes, one ofwhich 98 is visible in FIG. 8, and spaced about two inches below theupper holes are a lower pair 103, 104 of aligned holes. Pivotally,received on a pin 106 extending through the upper holes 98 is a moveableleg 108 having a foot 110 at the lower end thereof. The leg 108 hasspaced apart plates 112, 114 at the upper end thereof adapted to fitbetween the retainer plates 94, 96. The spaced apart plates 112, 114have an aligned first pair of holes 116, 118 for receiving the pivot pin106, and below the first pair of holes are a second set of aligned holes120, 122 that align with the lower pair of aligned holes 103, 104 of theretainer plates when the leg is extended downwardly. A removable lockingpin 124 is inserted into the two pairs of holes 103, 104 and 120, 122 tolock the leg 108 in an extended position, shown in FIG. 1, wherein thefoot 110 will support one end of the device 10 on the ground. The plates112, 114 have a third pair of aligned holes 126, 128 which will alignwith the lower pair of holes 103, 104 of the retainer plates 94, 96 whenthe leg 108 is pivoted to the folded position. To move the leg 108 fromthe extended position, shown in FIG. 1, to the folded position, shown inFIG. 4, the locking pin 124 is removed from holes 103, 104 and 120, 122and the leg moved to the folded position, and the pin 124 inserted intoholes 103, 104 and 126, 128.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, and 4, near the second end 19 of the arm 12is a moveable yoke 128 having a central portion consisting of upper andlower transverse bars 130, 132 extending generally parallel to crossmember 60, and extending from the outer ends of the bars 130, 132 areparallel first and second side members 134, 136. The lower ends of sidemembers 134, 136 have aligned transverse holes therein, unnumbered, withside member 136 fitted between end cap 61 of cross member 60 and wheel64 and the side member 134 fitted between the second end cap 62 of crossmember 60 and wheel 65. The axle shaft 63 extends through the holes atthe lower ends of end members 134, 136 such that the yoke is rotatableabout the axle shaft 63.

The outer ends 138, 140 of bar 130 extend beyond side members 134, 136and pivotally attached to the outer ends 138, 140 of bar 130 are pins,unnumbered, for pivotally retaining third and fourth clamps 142, 144,each of which is structurally identical to clamps 44, 46 describedabove.

Referring further to FIG. 1, attached to the center of the lower surfaceof bar 132 is a metal loop 148, and attached to the upper surface of thefirst end of first section 14 of the arm 12 is another metal loop 150. Athird metal loop 152 is attached to the second end 19 of the first armsection 14. A first strap 154 is removably attachable by a clip at theends thereof, unnumbered, between loop 148 on bar 132 and loop 152 atthe end of arm 12 to prevent the yoke 128 from swinging against the arm12 while the device 10 is in use. A second strap 156 is removablyattached by clips at the ends thereof, unnumbered, between loop 148 onbar 132 and loop 150 at the first end of section 14 to hold the yoke 128at an angled orientation with respect to arm 12, as shown in FIG. 1. Agurney or carrying basket can then be retained under the clamps 74, 76,142, 144. Elongate members such as a folding rescue ladder and fireman'spike poles can also be carried between rack 57 and bar 132. With thedevice so loaded, one person can easily transport the equipment from anemergency vehicle to the site where the equipment is needed.

The device 10 is preferably carried on a fire truck or in an ambulanceand is stored on board in the collapsed position with the yoke 128folded against the collapsed central arm 12 and the leg 108 pivotedaround the pin 106 and locked in the folded position by pin 124 so as toextend generally parallel to the elongate central arm 12. Fire trucksand the like have a plurality of compartments, many of which willreceive objects having outer dimensions of one and one-half feet by twofeet by two and one-half feet. To fit standard compartments, the axleshaft 63 is preferably a little shorter than two feet long and the arm12 telescopes downward to within two and one-half feet. Once at thescene, the device is erected by longitudinally extending the sections14, 15, 16, 17 of the central arm 12 and folding out the yoke 128 andthe support leg 108. Any piece of elongate emergency equipment, such asa stretcher or carrying devices, is attachable to the device 10 by theclamps 74, 76, 142, 144. Fireman's pike poles and a collapsible laddercan be carried between the rack 57 and the lower bar 132 of the yoke.Once fully loaded, the device 10 with equipment thereon can betransported by a single individual holding the grip members 54, 55 ofthe handle 53.

While the present device has been described with respect to a singleembodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications andvariations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. It is therefore the intent of the appended claims tocover all such modifications and variations that fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. A carrying device comprising an elongate support member having afirst end and a second end, a handle at said first end, a pair of wheelsrotatably mounted on an axle at said second end for rolling said deviceacross an underlying surface, a first cross member between said firstend and said second end and generally near said first end of saidsupport member, a first connector on said first cross member forremovably retaining an object thereto for transporting on said device, ayoke including a central portion and two side members, said side membershaving lower ends spaced from said central portion, said lower endsrotatably attached to said support member for rotation of said yoke in aplane perpendicular to said axle wherein said yoke is moveable between afirst collapsed position and a second position for retaining said objectthereon, a second cross member on said yoke perpendicular to saidsupport member, a second connector on said second cross member forremovably retaining said object thereto for transporting by said device.2. The carrying device of claim 1 wherein said elongate support istelescopically collapsible.
 3. The carrying device of claim 1 whereinsaid first connector includes a first hook member pivotally connected toa first end of said first cross member and a second hook memberpivotally connected to a second end of said first cross member whereinsaid first and second hook members will retain objects having differentsizes and shapes.
 4. The device of claim 1 and further including a firststrap extending between said yoke and said first end and a second strapextending between said yoke and said second end, and each of said firstand second straps being disconnectable at an end thereof.
 5. The deviceof claim 1 including a rack positioned near said handle.
 6. The carryingdevice of claim 2 wherein said elongate support member will collapse tono more than two and one-half feet in length.
 7. The carrying device ofclaim 3 wherein said first hook member is longitudinally adjustable forretaining objects having different sizes and shapes, said first hookmember including a first portion pivotally attached to said first crossmember, a second portion longitudinally adjustable with respect to saidfirst portion, and a hook on said second portion.